snowkab's review against another edition
3.0
I'll preface this review with something: I have never read any other books in this series or by this author. I just needed to read a book with a day or a date in the title for a reading challenge. So if you're looking for a reviewer whose read the six books that came before it, I'm not it.
I read this book in two days (it's not long, and I had free time) and it was a mostly enjoyable read. It's a pretty standard thriller with a pretty standard villain- at no point did the villain surprise me. In fact, I'm not certain any plot twist caught me by surprise. Except maybe one towards the very end? Uber spoilers for the ending:.
One of my major issues with this book is that it is cluttered with point-of-view characters. We had Rebecca, Patrick, Henry, Maggie, Project Manager/Asante, and Nick. There may have been another, but I don't really care. This book is 295 pages with 83 chapters. It only covers four days. Six perspectives makes it super redundant. Why did we need Rebecca and Patrick? Why did we need Maggie and Nick? Why did we need Henry at all? I know that the villain's perspective is standard in thrillers, but that's one of the reasons I don't read a lot of them.
I'm not certain why Rebecca was chosen to be a POV character. She didn't really add... anything to the plot except as a way to make the Project Manager scarier?
Nick also bothered me, but I think I was supposed to like him. He apparently had shown up in a few previous books? Whatever. He was an entitled jerk who got jealous every time Maggie so much as looked at another dude. He drove by her house and looked up the license plate number of another truck there! Red flag, dude, red flag. He was also somewhat pointless. He was there to add some weird tension, I think, and to supply the like two bits of plot-relevant info that he had.
I think this would have been a much stronger book with a smaller cast of characters. Part of the struggle was me jumping into the middle of series (although a series intended to let people jump in), but part of it was just bad writing. There were too many times that chapters had to skip back an hour and do it over and over so we could learn what the different characters did at the same time. We didn't need to watch every character learn about the bombing and make travel plans and arrive and see the place for the first time and introduce each other to every character.
I read this book in two days (it's not long, and I had free time) and it was a mostly enjoyable read. It's a pretty standard thriller with a pretty standard villain- at no point did the villain surprise me. In fact, I'm not certain any plot twist caught me by surprise. Except maybe one towards the very end? Uber spoilers for the ending:
Spoiler
I thought they had killed Patrick. I was a little disappointed that the author copped out with a garage bomb. That didn't seem in line with the villain's motivationOne of my major issues with this book is that it is cluttered with point-of-view characters. We had Rebecca, Patrick, Henry, Maggie, Project Manager/Asante, and Nick. There may have been another, but I don't really care. This book is 295 pages with 83 chapters. It only covers four days. Six perspectives makes it super redundant. Why did we need Rebecca and Patrick? Why did we need Maggie and Nick? Why did we need Henry at all? I know that the villain's perspective is standard in thrillers, but that's one of the reasons I don't read a lot of them.
I'm not certain why Rebecca was chosen to be a POV character. She didn't really add... anything to the plot except as a way to make the Project Manager scarier?
Spoiler
But don't tell me this guy is uber smart and has contingencies and then he comes at a scared teenage girl with a loaded syringe in his hand? What an idiot- of course she runs.Nick also bothered me, but I think I was supposed to like him. He apparently had shown up in a few previous books? Whatever. He was an entitled jerk who got jealous every time Maggie so much as looked at another dude. He drove by her house and looked up the license plate number of another truck there! Red flag, dude, red flag. He was also somewhat pointless. He was there to add some weird tension, I think, and to supply the like two bits of plot-relevant info that he had.
I think this would have been a much stronger book with a smaller cast of characters. Part of the struggle was me jumping into the middle of series (although a series intended to let people jump in), but part of it was just bad writing. There were too many times that chapters had to skip back an hour and do it over and over so we could learn what the different characters did at the same time. We didn't need to watch every character learn about the bombing and make travel plans and arrive and see the place for the first time and introduce each other to every character.
ennime713's review
3.0
I was a little disappointed by this one. Definitely not the best in the Maggie O'Dell series.
bobbikaye's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it! Couldn't put it down! What a way to get to know your family!
drew5287's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookworm_enni's review
3.0
I was a little disappointed by this one. Definitely not the best in the Maggie O'Dell series.
jebersviller's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting premise. Somewhat reminiscent of Cornwell's Scarpetta series.
boleary30's review against another edition
3.0
Good characters, Maggie O'Dell, Nick Morelli, the terrorist, but not much happens other than character info.
scott_a_miller's review against another edition
2.0
This one was a little disappointing. The potential was there but never manifested itself. I love the O’Dell books. I’m actually a little surprised at this one. 2 Stars might be a touch generous.
The premise was good, home grown terror. The bad guy never got fully fleshed out, not his present or past for that matter. There is going to have to be more on him. Another cliffhanger of sorts. I hate books with cliffhangers.
O’Dell wasn’t herself. Kava wasn’t herself. I hope the next one is better.
The premise was good, home grown terror. The bad guy never got fully fleshed out, not his present or past for that matter. There is going to have to be more on him. Another cliffhanger of sorts. I hate books with cliffhangers.
O’Dell wasn’t herself. Kava wasn’t herself. I hope the next one is better.
jonetta's review against another edition
3.0
It's the day after Thanksgiving and a bomb has gone off at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Maggie O'Dell's interim assistant director demands that she join him on the case as they, along with the deputy director of Homeland Security, work with local law enforcement to find the perpetrators.
This story had a great premise and showed a lot of promise in the beginning. It kept me hooked through a lot of the story, more than halfway. Unfortunately, it was again plagued with the tiresome relationship plot line (yes, Nick Morelli is back again). It also failed to deliver the excitement it should have because of sudden shifts in direction and lack of follow through. We're given yet another incomplete finale with hastily tied off loose ends. Maggie also seems to be pedaling a stationary bike with respect to her relationships. Ben Platt makes brief appearances, though they are uninspired.
The best part of the story, the most complete, was the inclusion of Maggie's half-brother Patrick. (Most annoying, though, is the author's reference to him as her stepbrother.) Their relationship moved forward significantly. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle the way the rest seem to do in this series. I'm not sure how long I can continue without some serious character growth and development.
This story had a great premise and showed a lot of promise in the beginning. It kept me hooked through a lot of the story, more than halfway. Unfortunately, it was again plagued with the tiresome relationship plot line (yes, Nick Morelli is back again). It also failed to deliver the excitement it should have because of sudden shifts in direction and lack of follow through. We're given yet another incomplete finale with hastily tied off loose ends. Maggie also seems to be pedaling a stationary bike with respect to her relationships. Ben Platt makes brief appearances, though they are uninspired.
The best part of the story, the most complete, was the inclusion of Maggie's half-brother Patrick. (Most annoying, though, is the author's reference to him as her stepbrother.) Their relationship moved forward significantly. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle the way the rest seem to do in this series. I'm not sure how long I can continue without some serious character growth and development.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Black Friday
3 Stars
Synopsis
Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in America, and three young men are about to wreak havoc by detonating an EMP pulse in the Mall of America. Unbeknownst to them, they are actually pawns in a much larger and deadlier conspiracy that will leave dozens dead and FBI profiler, Maggie O'Dell in a race against time to prevent an even more catastrophic terror attack.
Review
A good premise but the execution is poor and the finale does not deliver.
This is supposed to be a "race against time" scenario but the pace is slow and there is no sense of urgency. The book also finishes with too many loose ends and unanswered questions -.
The writing is choppy with events occurring out of the blue with no exposition or development. The chapters are also very short, often 2-3 pages, which makes it difficult to became engaged with the storyline.
Once again, there is little to no character growth - the cat and mouse between Maggie and Nick is getting old - too many hurt feelings and lack of trust. It is time to either put up or shut up with this relationship. On the other hand, Maggie's half-brother, Patrick Murphy, is given some much needed page time and the sections about him are enjoyable.
One positive aspect of the plot involves the exploration of the John Doe #2 conspiracy theory following the Oklahoma Bombing - as a non-American, this is my first time hearing about this and it added an interesting element to the terrorist plot.
On a final note, the book references numerous events from previous installments and it might be difficult for first time readers of the series to follow.
Overall, a disappointing addition and I hope that the next one will be better.
3 Stars
Synopsis
Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in America, and three young men are about to wreak havoc by detonating an EMP pulse in the Mall of America. Unbeknownst to them, they are actually pawns in a much larger and deadlier conspiracy that will leave dozens dead and FBI profiler, Maggie O'Dell in a race against time to prevent an even more catastrophic terror attack.
Review
A good premise but the execution is poor and the finale does not deliver.
This is supposed to be a "race against time" scenario but the pace is slow and there is no sense of urgency. The book also finishes with too many loose ends and unanswered questions -
Spoiler
As with "A Perfect Evil", I gather we will be seeing more of the villain of this pieceThe writing is choppy with events occurring out of the blue with no exposition or development
Spoiler
i.e., Dixon and Becca's sudden rescue by SWATOnce again, there is little to no character growth - the cat and mouse between Maggie and Nick is getting old - too many hurt feelings and lack of trust. It is time to either put up or shut up with this relationship. On the other hand, Maggie's half-brother, Patrick Murphy, is given some much needed page time and the sections about him are enjoyable.
One positive aspect of the plot involves the exploration of the John Doe #2 conspiracy theory following the Oklahoma Bombing - as a non-American, this is my first time hearing about this and it added an interesting element to the terrorist plot.
On a final note, the book references numerous events from previous installments and it might be difficult for first time readers of the series to follow.
Overall, a disappointing addition and I hope that the next one will be better.